Black Range Tales, Sixty Years of Life and Adventure in the Southwest.  James A. McKenna Mandy Lou The Rawhiders Come to New Mexico   Today I am reading a chapter from a book carried in local Museums, the author was a prospector in Hillsboro NM in 1888 about the time this story takes place.  Why did I choose it, the last part of the story will tell you. Hope you enjoy it.

Today we were joined by Megan Richardson from the Slash Ranch. She will give us a rundown on what it has been like to have no wolf mitigation since the new Settlement between Environmental Organizations and the USFWS.  A settlement that effectively revoked the 10J part of the Mexican wolf recovery plan that ensures ranchers are given mitigation tools and removals for multiple and chronic livestock kills.  in 2015, the recovery plan and final rule allowed for removals of stock killing wolves.  The new settlement refused to take into account ranchers needs and burdens brought on by the program and has been allowing unmitigated unending livestock kills.  https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/uvkbqvcjgn6wvxsg/Megan_and_the_wolvesfinal764hb.mp3

Western Watershed are they distorting the truth and maligning southwest ranchers. The things I have experienced and seen over the years has me questioning their methods.   Colorado ranchers have no idea of the giant pile of doo doo they can expect if they think their wolf program will be ethical and support their operations.  NM ranchers, still going and surviving, even after being maligned and liabled and threatened by govt. funded zealots.

Hayden Forward presents the Heritage Waters Coalition analysis of Senator Martin Heinrich's Bill to apply WSR status to the San Francisco and Gila Rivers.  Heritage Waters Coalition Ranchers Have Rights wildcowtrails@gmail.com

Please excuse our recording quality this episode, when you get three grandmas in the discussion, there's going to be some giggling, dogs and kids.  But the content is in the mix so take a listen.  ✯✯✯ Hearing Notice ✯✯✯ US House Committee on Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee Legislative Hearing – Thursday, June 15, 2023 On Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a legislative hearing on: · H.R. 3397 (Rep. Curtis), To require the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a rule of the Bureau of Land Management relating to conservation and landscape health. The Honorable Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, and The Honorable Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming, will testify at the hearing. Hearing Link This Saturday! The New Mexico Federal Lands Council (NMFLC) will hold a meeting at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the Jackson Ranch Steakhouse (old KBob's), 1123 NW Frontage Road, Socorro, NM 87801. A dutch-treat lunch will be part of the meeting, so we need a headcount please! Please email newmexicofederallandscouncil@gmail.com to confirm your attendance. Thanks!

Howard Hutchinson from AZNM Coalition of Counties joins us to go over the coalitions work on the BLM's attempt to rewrite law and history to the detriment of multiple users of BLM lands.   But first an update on Sakett V. EPA the recent win in the US Supreme Court and what it means for property owners across the country trying to curtail government overreach. Comments on the proposed BLM rule are due June 20, so please gear up to make them soon.  We will be posting Howard's draft comments and the rule itself but start with the podcast and get your fix on the issues.  Here is a link supplied by Carolyn https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-19/article-3/section-19-3-13/list of laws the BLM will be breaking if they move forward with this effort.   It is extremely unfortunate that members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation do not understand the intent of congress on federal lands, and are willing to risk the stability of ranching and other multiple uses on these lands.  The following press release indicates there is no balance on our economically based federal lands and ranches.  This is not true theres massive wilderness designations and national parks already set aside for this supposed balance that other uses do not have access to.   ----more--------more----   Reps. Grijalva, Stansbury, Western Leaders Back BLM Rule Amidst Partisan Attacks Call to highlight rule's benefits at 1:00pm EST on Thursday June 15 after House committee hears misguided bill to block BLM 's plan restore balance to land management   This Thursday June 15 at 1:00pm EST / 11:00am MST public lands users, congressional leaders and policy experts will respond to claims made by opponents of the Bureau of Land Management’s new Public Lands Rule, which will be the subject of a House Natural Resources Committee hearing earlier that morning. Please RSVP to Chris Saeger (chris@bigmountainstrategy.com) to get call-in details for this opportunity to hear about the rule's benefits from these speakers: House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Arizona Rep. Raul GrijalvaNew Mexico Rep. Melanie StansburyKeegan King, Founder and CEO Native Lands InstituteJames Kenna, Retired California State Director for the Bureau of Land ManagementBailey Brennan, Public Lands Attorney, National Wildlife FederationDanielle Murray, Senior Policy and Legal Director, Conservation Lands FoundationChris Marshall, Director of Research for Energy and Environment, Accountable.US BLM’s new rule puts conservation on an equal footing with other multiple uses of public lands. It allows land to be leased for conservation alongside grazing, drilling, mining and even more extractive uses of public lands. No valid existing rights to use BLM lands for these purposes will be affected. The rule seeks to correct a system that has been wildly imbalanced: 90% of BLM lands are open to drilling;60% are leased for grazing;Only 14% are managed for conservation. Learn more about the campaign to balance public lands management through the new rule at ActNowForPublicLands.org.

We've had a short hiatus during a lot of catch-up ranch work and a really unfortunate accident that is going to be ok with time.   With the evolution of the podcast we want to discuss where we are going and pursue some new ideas. Resources Wildlife Livestock Conflict Resolution Act Public Rangeland Improvement Act Taylor Grazing Act Federal Lands Management and Policy Act BLM and Interior Dept. new regulations proposal. Comments and link Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties Ranchers Have Rights

Have you ever wondered why your small rural town or community is so broke.  Well we have some answers for you.  Unfortunately, one US law has the authority to completely ignore all your constitutional rights.  Rights the urban centers take for granted.

Twenty-five Years into the Mexican Wolf recovery program, and it's been a ride.  We will use this episode to scratch the surface of how wolves have impacted ranchers in the southwest, the way they are managed and our personal experiences with surviving in ranching with these animals on the landscape.

Where do ranchers get their rights on federally administered land?  It might surprise you.  It sure would surprise the USFS if they actually read the law and their own regulations. Carolyn takes the reigns and points out how The Homestead Act, The Stockraising Homestead Act, The Congress, and The President were all instrumental in ensuring Ranchers Have Rights.

The wilderness and USFS allotments were not set aside to preserve they were actually set aside to provide economic benefits to local communities.  This week we take a look at historical references to livestock cattle and grazing and how ranching began in the southwest, centuries before the USFS became a thing. How did native Americans and Historic Spaniards start the cattle populations in the Gila Region long before settlers under the homestead act even moved into the region.  Nope the cattle are no more infiltrators than wild horses.  And Carolyn is pretending to be a pilot with her new headphone Mic combo.

How did a small herd of feral cattle become the focus of anti-ranching radical environmentalists and how did the Gila Forest Service contribute to the brutal slaying of this cow herd. The background history and tragic story behind the cow slaughter on the Gila.  Sources ranchershaverights.com Wilderness Designation and  Livestock Grazing: The Gila Example   NMSU RITF publication 83

Introducing Cow Dust and Cattle Country, a podcast on ranching in the west and it’s challenges, especially when small family ranches, must depend on federally administered grazing allotments. Laura Schneberger and Carolyn Nelson, both lifelong ranch wives and ranch partners, discuss the history of federally administered grazing allotments and ongoing issues facing those family run operations today. Issues like dealing with federal agencies that administer the lands for public and private uses, endangered species management, and the difficulty of always being at risk of the next sue and settle lawsuit designed to end grazing on federally administered allotments.